Introduction:Recently, Manner has accelerated its pace of new product launches, with several cold drinks introduced in just over a month. The latest offering, the "Orange Iced Tea Latte," combines orange, jasmine green tea, and coffee, but has been questioned by consumers for being too similar to its existing "Qingcheng Orange Latte." Regular customers have noticed the brand’s recent preference for a “fruit + tea + coffee” formula, and the sweeter taste profile has sparked discussion. This article analyzes the similarities and differences between the two drinks and explores the reasons behind Manner’s shift in flavor direction.

In recent times, Manner has noticeably increased the frequency of its new product releases. Within just over a month, it has rolled out multiple new cold drink options, successfully attracting many coffee enthusiasts to visit its stores for a taste. In addition to updating its SOE coffee bean offerings, the new beverages have also become a focal point.

The newly launched drink this week, the "Orange Iced Tea Latte," combines the seasonally popular orange, refreshing jasmine green tea, and coffee. Just from the name, it is enough to pique the interest of both tea-coffee and fruit-coffee lovers. Shortly after the new menu item went live, customers quickly headed to stores to try it.

However, many customers who have tried this new drink say that the "Orange Iced Tea Latte" is highly similar to Manner’s already available "Qingcheng Orange Latte." According to photos shared by netizens, the two drinks not only look alike—both are garnished with orange slices—but their overall color tones are also very similar.

In terms of flavor, although the "Orange Iced Tea Latte" includes jasmine green tea, which theoretically adds layers of complexity, some consumers reported that the aroma of the orange syrup is overly prominent, overshadowing the delicate taste of the tea. For those with less sensitive palates, the two drinks are almost indistinguishable, easily creating a sense of “flavor clash.”

This situation has left some consumers disappointed with the new release, but observant customers have noticed that many of Manner’s recent drinks revolve around the “fruit + tea + coffee” combination model—for example, the earlier "Apricot Iced Tea Americano" follows a similar direction.

In the current coffee market, creative combinations of fruity flavors with tea are not uncommon, with brands such as Luckin and Cotti having launched similar products that have received positive market feedback. However, some users feel that while Manner’s new products use elements preferred by consumers, they lack originality and bear a high similarity to competing products from other brands on the market, making it difficult to highlight Manner’s unique identity.

Taking the "Apricot Iced Tea Americano" as an example, this drink also uses jasmine tea as a base, but some customers say that the actual tea flavor is quite light, making it more similar to other brands’ yellow apricot-flavored Americanos. Priced at around 20 yuan, this drink has thus been jokingly called a “certain-xing premium alternative,” implying it offers less value for money compared to competitors.

In addition, many regulars have reported that Manner’s recent new products generally have a problem with excessive sweetness. The overall flavor is more like a sweet drink with added coffee, rather than a beverage where coffee is the star. Many consumers have said that the overuse of syrups and thick milk makes the drinks lose the subtlety of specialty coffee, with some even joking that Manner has become a “sugar assassin,” driving away repeat customers with its overly sweet offerings.

A long-time loyal customer of Manner admitted that the brand was once one of the representatives of specialty coffee, with most store drinks meeting the expectations of coffee aficionados. But as market trends have shifted, Manner’s drink recipes have gradually incorporated more syrups and dairy ingredients, shifting the flavor profile toward sweet drinks. This has disappointed the original coffee-loving customer base and continuously lowered expectations for new products.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.